Stuart Foster – Business Travel Supervisor
Started February 2005

Stuart started his career with Thomas Cook in 1999, firstly in retail as a trainee travel consultant selling a wide range of holidays. Then in 2000 he moved into one of Thomas Cook’s leading Flight Centres specialising in scheduled flights - shorthaul and longhaul, tailor made holidays and the prestige market. In 2004 he became the Thomas Cook/Flightsavers retail co-ordinator for the North of England, helping develop a new computer system for the retail offices.
Then in 2005 he moved to Northern Ireland and Knock Travel starting out in Business Travel, learning from an experienced team to eventually become the supervisor in 2008 which is what he is currently doing today.
Throughout his career he has had the opportunity to travel to many destinations, both in Europe, USA, Caribbean, Middle & Far East and the Pacific. This has given him the chance to to fly with many airlines experiencing various classes of travel and to stay in some of the worlds top hotels.

Basil Gage – Business Travel Advisor
Started January 2005

Hello, Bonjour, Buon giorno, Dzien Dobry, Ahoj, Ola, Guten tag, Gruzei, as-salam alaykum.
Basil joined the Inland Revenue as an Executive Officer after leaving school.
Believe it or not he was a collector of taxes and had office duties and clients to visit across most of Northern Ireland -one of his clients would collect him in her Morris Minor and take him to her office - they would break for lunch and tiffins !
Basil’s father had worked in aviation and after 4years with the Inland Revenue he decided to pursue a career in travel.
He applied to British Midland (now bmi) and he was successful. The next 23 years would prove to be challenging and rewarding with great opportunities.
He enjoyed the multi-roles he had to develop throughout Europe and the Middle East, it was a busy schedule but he found getting to know each culture helped him to have a greater understanding of each city and country.
From 2002 he remained in travel and in 2004 joined the Knock Travel Business Team.
In Jan 2009 he celebrated his 30th year in travel..... fire extinguishers were at the ready!

Clifford Holmes – Business Travel Advisor
Started 2002

Clifford has always had a great love of maps and anything to do with travel to far off places.
After school he joined McCalla Travel, a long established family firm and learnt his trade with great help from Joe Laffin, Stanley Hamilton and Billy McCormick – 3 names well established in the travel industry of Northern Ireland.
He then joined BOAC the forerunner of British Airways in their reservations department, he then transferred to their sales shop in Belfast. When the merger of BOAC and British Airways took place he went to work at the sales desk at Belfast International Airport.
Clifford has travelled extensively in North America, Europa, Africa, The Middle and Far East and also Australasia. These were many highlights on his many trips but 2 in particular stand out; 1 – His first round the world trip and a visit to Persepolis – The Ancient City in Iran which dates from 518BC.
He then joined Knock Travel in 2002 to work in their Business Travel Department, he still very much enjoys travelling and has recently been to South Africa and the Canadian Rockies.

Emma McMeekin – Business Travel Advisor
Started July 1995

After leaving school Emma joined Knock Travel as a trainee travel consultant. After 4 years she moved into the Business Travel Department and has been here ever since, at total of 14 years now.
Her other roles include social events co-ordination and a work well member which promotes healthy eating/lifestyle in the work place recently accredited by the BBC. This is a very important role, making sure everyone feels healthy and happy in their role.

Gill McLees – Business Travel Advisor
Started

Gill’s career started 25 years ago in Chieftain Tours as an office administrator. During her time in the travel industry she has travelled extensively throughout USA and Canada.
In her career she has worked as a tour guide, airport liaison officer and overseas representative, she has gained an excellent knowledge and experience of the travel industry as a whole.
Gill very much enjoys working in Knock Travel’s Business Department and is known as one of the jokers in the office!
 

Lynn McVeigh – Business Travel Advisor
Started July 2005

Lynn has been in travel now for almost 13 years, her career started in 1996 as a trainee travel advisor with Going Places selling a wide range of holidays.
After completing 2 years as a trainee building on knowledge and experience she was promoted straight to an assistant manager of a busy shopping centre branch including managing a foreign exchange bureau.
In July 2005 she moved to Knock Travel’s Business Department where she currently remains to this day.

Zoe Reid – Business Travel Advisor
Started February 2007

After completing a course on travel & tourism at Rupert Stanley College Zoe joined Laffin Travel in Belfast August1980 as a trainee consultant.  It was a very busy office and time consuming as most things where done by hand including ticket issues but was a great  place to learn about the travel trade under the guidance of Joe laffin, Billy McCormick & Bertha McIlroy all with years of experience.
 
After 17 years with the company Zoe decided to move on to pastures new and in Dec
 1997 joined Feherty Travel in Bangor as a senior travel consultant. As previously this was a family run business with both retails clients and business accounts. After 10 years with the company it was off to pastures new again and a bit of a change.

In Feb 2007 she joined Knock Travel Business Dept  which was a big change from previous retail offices, but she has now settled in well and is part of a team.